Klein and colleagues: formal verification of the seL4 kernel

What changed

A general-purpose microkernel's C code was linked to its formal specification by a machine-checked proof.

Scientific scope

2009 thirteen-author SOSP paper and functional correctness claim; compiler, assembly, hardware and whole-system security are outside proof.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact thirteen-author SOSP 2009 paper. Its proof assumes the compiler, assembly and boot code, cache management, hardware and other stated trusted components; it is not a proof that every seL4-based system is free of all security or hardware flaws.

Contributors

• The named authors listed in the linked research record · SCIENCE: Complete source byline retained in the research record; this collective display does not merge person identities or measure labor shares.

• Klein et al., seL4: Formal Verification of an OS Kernel
• Crossref record for seL4

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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